Despite a strong start to the season, there are plenty of players for the Chicago Cubs under pressure heading into the second half of 2026. The Cubs’ first half had many notable performances, but the bigger story was about the stars not living up to their hype. These stars made some of the Cubs’ weaknesses very clear. If they wish to remain in postseason contention, then they need to find a way to get more production from a few notable names. Whether these are upcoming free agents or recently acquired stars, there are plenty of Cubs under pressure to keep an eye on in the second half.
Several Cubs Under Pressure as Second Half Kicks Off
Alex Bregman
Alex Bregman may be one of the most talked-about names for the Cubs this season, and it has not been for good reasons. When Chicago signed Bregman this past offseason, the hope was that he would help elevate the team to the next level. The star third baseman is hitting .241 with nine home runs and 41 RBI. They are not awful numbers, and when combined with his defense, make him a quality player. However, he has not been the star the team had hoped for and has left the second-most runners on base in the league, although he did seem to be picking it up at the end of the first half.
ALEX BREGMAN HOMER ALEX BREGMAN HOMER pic.twitter.com/6r6Yi68la5
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 12, 2026
Among the Cubs under pressure, his bat is one of the most valuable assets for the team. Chicago’s hitting has heated up and is a major reason the team found success toward the All-Star break. His bat would only strengthen that, bringing another consistent threat to the lineup. His defense and veteran leadership already make him valuable to the team. However, if he wishes to live up to the contract that Chicago gave him, then he needs to start being better on the batting side of things.
Ian Happ
Staying on the offensive side of things, Ian Happ may have the most to prove the rest of the season. As he is in the last year of his deal, he is high on the list of Cubs under pressure in the second half of the season. His season has been very up and down, but fans have grown extremely frustrated with him. This has mainly been due to his strikeout issues, as he is tied for the fifth-most in the league with 125. Additionally, he is only hitting .220 and has left 198 runners on base, which is the most in the league.
The bright side for Happ is that he has offered plenty of upside. His 17 home runs and 59 runs scored are both second on the team, only behind Pete Crow-Armstrong. Additionally, he has 42 RBI, which is the fifth-best. When adding those to his elite defense, it seems like it would be a productive year. At this point, increasing his batting average to the league average would help his numbers look better. Regardless of how he ends his year, he will likely have a solid market in free agency. If he can level up his game, then he could be in for a big payday and make the Cubs more comfortable in bringing him back.
Edward Cabrera
Turning to the pitching staff, no starter may be under more pressure than Edward Cabrera. When the Cubs traded for the starter in the offseason, the plan was that he would become one of the top of the rotation starters. Unfortunately, he joined a long list of Cubs injuries this season and has missed a majority of the year. He has been limited to 72 1/3 innings and a 5.10 ERA, which is currently his second-worst in a season. He is 5-4 and has allowed 14 homers, which is only three fewer than his career high. To put it simply, 2026 has been about as bad as possible so far for Cabrera.
Unlike the other Cubs under pressure, there is less reason for optimism. In the first half, he showed very few promising signs. There were times when he could get strikeouts better than other starters and had a few good stretches, but nothing too notable. He does still have time to prove that the trade to get him was worth it, but it all needs to start with this second half. On the pitching side of things, due to his talent and potential, he can help boost the team the most with a potential return to form.
Shota Imanaga
Like Happ, Shota Imanaga is a free agent after this year. Of all the Cubs under pressure, his future may be impacted the most by the second half of 2026. He has had a few good moments and shown his promise, but has also struggled heavily in his bad starts. He is 5-8 with a 4.17 ERA in 108 innings. When looking at the Cubs’ other starters, those numbers are certainly not bad. However, he has allowed 22 home runs, which is the third most in the league. On the bright side, he ended the first half on a strong note.
Shota Imanaga now has a 2.81 ERA over his last six starts.
— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen2) July 11, 2026
Imanaga may have shown the most promise among the Cubs under pressure heading into the second half. He has been one of the few pitchers able to stay healthy and leads the team in innings pitched. His 4.17 ERA does not look great, but it is solid enough to keep Chicago in any game he pitches. Home runs have been the major issue affecting him in his career, so if he can find a way to manage those, then he should be fine. He does not have to be elite, but he needs to step up to earn himself a wealthy contract, as well as carry the Cubs for the rest of 2026.
Last Word on the Cubs Under Pressure
There are plenty of Cubs under pressure if they wish to stay competitive heading into the second half of 2026. These four are just a few of the many players who did not quite produce as well as they should have. Imanaga and Happ need to perform well to best set themselves up as upcoming free agents. Meanwhile, Bregman and Cabrera are looking to prove that Chicago made the right decisions this past offseason. If the Cubs are to make a deep playoff run this year, the conversation needs to start with these four having better second halves.
Main Photo Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
